By the Numbers: Jared Spurgeon and the Significance of #46
From Growing Up in Edmonton to the NHL
Jared Spurgeon didn’t follow the usual blueprint to the NHL, and that’s part of what makes his story stick. Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, he was a forward early on before moving back to defense at 13—a decision that ended up shaping his entire career. The New York Islanders drafted him in 2008, but nothing ever came of it. Two years later, Minnesota gave him a shot. He showed up in 2010 and slowly made himself impossible to ignore. These days in the Minnesota Wild organization, number “46” is tied to a simple idea: steady hockey, done the right way.
Making Every Minute Count
At 5’9” and 166 pounds, Spurgeon plays with pace, sees the ice clearly, and almost never looks panicked. He’s the guy who breaks up a play before it becomes a problem—the kind of stuff you notice more on the second viewing than the first. Over more than 950 games, he’s topped 400 points, finding the balance between jumping into the play and taking care of his own end. That 2018–19 season—14 goals, 29 assists—felt like a clean snapshot of his game: efficient, smart, and dependable. The Minnesota Wild’s long-term commitment made perfect sense.
#46: A Number That Fits in Minnesota
Jersey numbers tend to grow into the players who wear them, and number “46” suits Spurgeon just fine. He’s not chasing highlights, but he’s always in the mix. He draws tough matchups and eats up important minutes. A lot of his value shows up in little details—a quick stick, a smart clear, a calm decision when things get messy. So when Minnesota handed him the captaincy, it wasn’t a headline moment. It was more of a nod to what everyone already knew.
A Lasting Impact
Spurgeon’s career is a reminder that not every impact player looks the same. Some lead loudly. Others lead by example, shift after shift, season after season. Wearing number “46”, he’s become one of the Wild’s true constants—someone teammates rely on and fans grow to appreciate the more they watch him play. His story isn’t built on one big moment. It’s built on trust, consistency, and doing the job right, night after night. And in this league, that still matters.